Matthew 2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:19

But when Herod was dead ,.... Who died, as before observed, a few months after this tragedy was acted; and, according to the F23 Megillah Taanith apud Van Till. de anno, &c.; Christ. Nat. p. 122. Jewish writers, on the seventh day of the month Cisleu, and which answers to the twenty fifth of our November: and was afterwards observed as a day of rejoicing by the Jews. The account which Josephus F24 De Bello Judaic. l. 1. c. 33. sect. 5. 7. & Antiq. l. 17. c. 9. , and from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:20

Saying, arise, and take the young child and his mother ,.... Joseph strictly observed and obeyed the divine command of the angel, who had ordered him to continue in Egypt, till he brought him word what he should do, and where he should go: here he was with Mary and Jesus, when the angel bid him arise, and take them with him, and go into the land of Israel. He does not bid him go to Bethlehem or Nazareth, or any particular place, but the land of Israel, where he might go even into any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:21

And he arose and took the young child and his mother ,.... He exactly conformed in every circumstance to the orders given him, with respect to the persons he took, the place he went to, and the expeditiousness of doing it; and is an example of ready and cheerful obedience to the commands of God, worthy of imitation. We may learn from hence, as well as from some other instances already met with, a reason among others, why, though Mary was a virgin, and even if she was to continue so, yet she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus ,.... This Archelaus was a son of Herod the great by Malthace Samaritan, and was appointed by him for his successor a little before his death, and was upon it declared king by the populace, the soldiers, and those that were in power; all which is affirmed by Josephus F1 Ib. c. 28. sect. 7. &c.; 33. sect. 1. & l. 2. c. 1. sect. 1. , and confirms the account given by the Evangelist; with whose account agrees what the Jewish chronologer says F2 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:23

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth ,.... Which was a city of Galilee, and where Joseph and Mary had both dwelt before, Luke 1:26 here they came and fixed their habitation, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet . This affair of going into Galilee, and settling at Nazareth, was brought about with this view, to accomplish what had been foretold by the prophets, or prophet, the plural number being used for the singular, as in John 6:45 . And indeed it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2

Wise men come from the east to worship Christ, Matthew 2:1 , Matthew 2:2 . Herod, hearing of the birth of our Lord, is greatly troubled, Matthew 2:3 ; and makes inquiry of the chief priests and scribes, where the Christ should be born, Matthew 2:4 . They inform him of the prophecy relative to Bethlehem, Matthew 2:5 , Matthew 2:6 . The wise men, going to Bethlehem, are desired by Herod to bring him word when they have found the child, pretending that he wished to do him homage, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:1

Bethlehem of Judea - This city is mentioned in Judges 17:7 , and must be distinguished from another of the same name in the tribe of Zebulon, Joshua 19:15 . It is likewise called Ephrath, Genesis 48:7 , or Ephratah, Micah 5:2 , and its inhabitants Ephrathites, Rth 1:2; 1 Samuel 17:12 . It is situated on the declivity of a hill, about six miles from Jerusalem. לחם בית Beth - lechem , in Hebrew, signifies the house of bread. And the name may be considered as very properly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:2

We have seen his star - Having discovered an unusual luminous appearance or meteor in the heavens, supposing these persons to have been Jews, and knowing the prophecies relative to the redemption of Israel, they probably considered this to be the star mentioned by Balaam, Numbers 24:17 . See the note there. In the east - Εν τη ανατολη , At its rise. Ανατολη and δυσμη are used in the New Testament for east and west. To worship him - Or, To do him homage; προσκυνησαι αυτω .... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:3

When Herod - heard these things, he was troubled - Herod's consternation was probably occasioned by the agreement of the account of the magi, with an opinion predominant throughout the east, and particularly in Judea, that some great personage would soon make his appearance, for the deliverance of Israel from their enemies; and would take upon himself universal empire. Suetonius and Tacitus, two Roman historians, mention this. Their words are very remarkable: - Percrebuerat Oriente... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:4

The chief priests - Not only the high priest for the time being, called הראש כהן cohen ha - rosh , 2 Kings 25:18 , and his deputy, called משנה כהן cohen mishneh , with those who had formerly borne the high priest's office; but also, the chiefs or heads of the twenty four sacerdotal families, which David distributed into so many courses, 1 Chronicles 24. These latter are styled הכהנים סרי sarey ha - cohanim , chief of the priests, 2 Chronicles 36:14 ; Ezra 8:24 ; and... read more

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